LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                               May 24, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable James E. "Pete" Laney, Speaker of the House,
               House of Representatives
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB1544  by Uher (Relating to the release of certain
               personal information from motor vehicle records and
               information relating to motor vehicle accident reports;
               providing penalties.), As Passed 2nd House
  
**************************************************************************
*  Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for    *
*  HB1544, As Passed 2nd House:  positive impact of $119,724 through     *
*  the biennium ending August 31, 2003.                                  *
*                                                                        *
*  The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal      *
*  basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of    *
*  the bill.                                                             *
**************************************************************************
  
General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
          ****************************************************
          *  Fiscal Year  Probable Net Positive/(Negative)   *
          *               Impact to General Revenue Related  *
          *                             Funds                *
          *       2002                              $59,862  *
          *       2003                               59,862  *
          *       2004                               59,862  *
          *       2005                               59,862  *
          *       2006                               59,862  *
          ****************************************************
  
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
  
***************************************************************************
*Fiscal    Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss)    Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss)   *
* Year      from General Revenue Fund        from State Highway Fund      *
*                      0001                            0006               *
*  2002                           $59,862                         $46,520 *
*  2003                            59,862                          46,520 *
*  2004                            59,862                          46,520 *
*  2005                            59,862                          46,520 *
*  2006                            59,862                          46,520 *
***************************************************************************
  
Fiscal Analysis
  
The bill would establish statutory fees for the sale of driver's license
and identification card files by the Department of Public Safety (DPS).
The bill would increase the fee for accident report searches and for
copies of an accident record.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2001.
  
  
Methodology
  
Currently, DPS charges 45 subscribers $1,600 for a complete file and $57
for weekly updates.  The bill would raise the cost of a complete file to
$2,000 and for weekly updates to $75.  DPS estimates that the current
subscribers will pay the increased fee for the weekly updates thereby
generating $42,120 in new revenue ($18 * 52 weeks *45 subscribers).  The
increase in cost for the complete file from $1,600 to $2,000.  In FY
2000, DPS sold eleven complete files.  Assuming demand for the files
stays level, the fee increase will generate $4,400 each fiscal year.

Currently the fees for accident records and accident report search
showing no record are $4 for the search and either $4 or $6 depending on
whether the accident record is certified or non-certified.  The bill
would increase the charge for the search and non-certified record to $6,
and the charge for a certified record to $8.  In FY 2000, DPS sold
18,294 non-certified records, 3,770 certified records, and 7,867
accident report searches showing no record.  If these sales remain
constant, the change in the fees would generate $59,862 in new revenue
annually.
  
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   
LBB Staff:         JK, RB, DG